WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of
Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) published a Notice of Inquiry
(NOI) seeking public comment regarding the September
30, 2009, expiration date of its Joint Project Agreement
(JPA) with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names
and Numbers (ICANN).

This JPA extended a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
between the Department of Commerce and ICANN regarding
transitioning the technical management of the domain
name and addressing system (DNS) to the private sector. The
DNS translates numeric Internet addresses into words,
allowing people to navigate the Internet easier.

“The Internet is increasingly important to the
world economy,” said Acting NTIA Administrator
Anna M. Gomez. "The Administration is committed
to ensuring that the management of the Internet’s
domain name and addressing system remains stable and
secure in a manner that both increases competition
and encourages international participation."

Details of the Notice of Inquiry are available at
the Federal Register at www.federalregister.gov and
at the NTIA Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov. Comments
may be submitted to DNSTransition@ntia.doc.gov and
are due on or before June 8, 2009. Comments will be
posted to NTIA's Web site at www.ntia.doc.gov.

U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications
and Information Administration serves as the executive
branch agency principally responsible for advising
the President on communications and information policies. For
more information about the NTIA, visit www.ntia.doc.gov.